Taking a trip down memory lane is always a gamble. We've all had good and bad experiences but I think it's fair to say that both help shape us into who we are today.

A while ago whilst visiting my mother-in-law, I started to truly appreciate the impressive bookshelf that my husband cultivated as a child. Reading has always been one of his favourite things to do. His bedroom's bookshelf (the one he had as a child) is filled with fantasy books. Next to these books is a picture of his child-self smiling whilst pointing at the spider climbing his naked torso. To this date, he still loves spiders and other critters, which brings me to my biggest find on the bookshelf - a book called 'Amazing Snakes' written by Alexandra Parsons which is part of the 'Amazing Worlds' series published in 1990. As I understand it, this was a birthday present he got alongside the 'Amazing Spiders' book of the same series that was nowhere to be found.

The 'Amazing Snakes' book looked rather worn (which is a good sign if you ask me!). Judging by the wear and tear marks on the book, the most popular section was the two-page feature on the Egg-Eater. It seems that as a child, he was fascinated by their uniqueness and what he described as seemingly 'non-threatening' nature due to their lack of teeth (well, lack of teeth as we see it).

Although the book did not specify which of the two genera of egg eating snakes it was referring to, I believe they 'lumped' Dasypeltis and Elachistodon together. For the purposes of this post, I will be focusing on the most commonly known species of the Dasypeltis genus - the Common Egg-Eater (Dasypeltis scabra).

About the Common Egg-Eater

This snake can be found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. It is no surprise, therefore, that most of its habitat is made up of deserts, scrubs and open woodlands. Adults can reach up to 1.1 metres in length but remain fairly thin with a diameter comparable to a human finger. They are nocturnal and usually lay anything between 6-25 eggs.

Some snakes are known for eating Squamata eggs and have developed incredible adaptations to be able to eat these shell-less eggs. However, none have evolved quite like snakes in the Dasypeltis and Elachistodon genera to be able to eat amniotic eggs (or 'hard-shelled eggs). The entire process is fascinating and one of my favourite topics on reptile evolution. So much so, that in his book, Life in Cold Blood, our beloved Sir David Attenborough gifts us with two pages on the egg-eater and their feeding method.

So, how do they feed? You see, despite their small girth, D. scabra can swallow eggs up to four times the diameter of their heads. The small vestiges of their teeth and jaw are covered by a soft mucosal tissue which makes both the 'teeth' and the jaw slide over the egg without breaking it (see images a and b). Once the egg is located behind the snake's throat (see image c), the snake uses its muscles to push the egg through the oesophagus.

Between its 21st and 29th vertebra, the snake's vertebrae are adorned by small down-ward spines (see image d). These spines crack the egg's shell into small pieces as the snake contracts that part of its body. The contraction is such that the snake manages to crack the egg but maintain the egg's membrane mostly intact. This allows the egg's contents to then be passed down to the snake's stomach whilst the cracked egg remains in place. The snake then regurgitates the fragmented eggshell pieces (mostly still connected by the membrane) and continue on its way.

The Pet Trade

Unfortunately, the egg-eater's seemingly non-threatening nature makes it an attractive species for the pet trade. It is often suggested as an alternative to those who may want a 'pet snake' but may not be willing to deal with live or frozen prey.

The reality, however, is that although its bite might not 'hurt', procuring its food source may not be as easy as one might think. For instance, although they can eat prey up to 4 times the diameter of their heads, the vast majority of them, even adults, will feed on eggs that are smaller than a chicken's egg. Juveniles, for instance, will often need to eat eggs that vary in size between a chicken and a quail's egg. As you can imagine, these are not always easy to find. They also tend to eat more frequently then other snake species and it is reported that their excrement can have a rather strong smell - similar to the smell reported by owners that feed their snake on chicks rather than rodents.

References & Sources:

Whilst carrying out research for this post, I came across quite a few published papers on the morphological adaptation found in the egg-eater. One of those papers, for instance, gives a good insight into the potential selective regime that may be conducive to the evolution of the species based on their morphological traits. Therefore, I have detailed below some of the most helpful sources I found and hope that you too enjoy researching this amazing creature!

Attenborough, D. (2008). Life in Cold Blood: A Natural History of Amphibians and Reptiles. BBC Books.

Out of all reptiles in existence, tortoises are one of the most widely kept as pets. This is not surprising considering that unlike other reptiles, they are perceived as mostly docile and non-threatening to humans. There's also, of course, the cuteness factor. Unfortunately, humans seem to be just as uninformed regarding their needs and husbandry as they are of any other reptilian order.

Before I start ranting about 'bad humans', let me give you a brief overview of the Chelonoidis carbonaria, commonly known as Red-footed Tortoise. If like me you too grew up in Brazil, the 'Jabuti-Piranga' as most Brazilians call them, are not exactly rare. Unfortunately, as expected of such a successfully captive kept species, wild populations are decreasing due to loss of habitat and the capture of wild individuals to meet the demands of the exotic pet trade.

Thirteen year old C. carbonaria named 'Casquinha' raised in captivity | Photograph by Caio Biasoli

Their habitat varies from rain forests to savanna areas and they can be found through most of northern South America (though going as far south as Rio de Janeiro in eastern Brazil), Central America and the Caribbean - where they have been introduced to many of the islands. Although there's a lack of data to confirm an average lifespan, both males and females reach sexual maturity at around 5 years old. They are diurnal and rather sedentary compared to other species.

Although their diet consists mainly of fruits and flowers, they are also known to consume dead and living foliage as well as carrion. As there's a lack of data on their lifespan, it is difficult to specify the size this species can reach. However, sexual dimorphism has been observed, with males being larger than females. If you'd like to know more about morphological variations and sexual dimorphism in C. carbonaria, I have included a great paper published in the Brazilian Journal of Biology in my references below - the paper was published in English and Brazilian Portuguese. It is worth noting that the C. carbonaria is more widely spread in the wild than its counterpart C. denticulada. The paper I mentioned above covers both species.

Casquinha, a C. carbonaria raised in captivity estimated to weigh 4-5 kg at age 13 | Photograph by Alex Bateman

In Brazil, for instance, the C. carboaria is protected by IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources). The sale and breeding of the species is restricted and you could receive a hefty fine for keeping it without the correct documentation. Despite the protection, they are still widely kept as pets illegally. As expected, they end up receiving a pretty pore excuse for 'care' in the hands of most humans.

As is unfortunately the case with most pet reptiles, many captive kept C. carbonaria suffer from calcium deficiencies and metabolic bone disease (MBD) as well as parasites (internal and external) and respiratory infections. The C. carbonaria can also suffer from shell rot and something called 'carapace pyramiding'. If you look at the three images above - especially the one used as the header for this post - you will notice that the carapace of the C. carbonaria I am holding is forming little pyramids.

This is something that occurs in many captive-kept tortoises and is not reversible. Although most cases, unless extreme, don't pose much of problem for the tortoise, it does give an indication of the conditions in which the tortoise is being kept as well as its diet. In fact, the effects of overfeeding and a high protein intake have been extensively discussed when it comes to the occurrence of pyramiding in tortoises. I would also like to highlight that, in addition to the wrong diet, dry conditions are also a contributing factor to pyramiding . If you look at the image of the wild C. carbonaria to the right, you will notice that this adult shows no signs of pyramiding.

The reason I am focusing so much on the 'Pyramiding' issue is that it can be clearly observed in the C. carbonaria individual shown in the first three photographs. The photographs, in fact, clearly illustrate the problems with the husbandry 'techniques' being applied to this little red-footed tortoise. You see, compared to other captive tortoises in Brazil, this individual has a pretty good life. It has space, seems to be pretty comfortable with its 'territory' and is bathed often to address the lack of humidity issue. However, it also has lots of company. From other tortoises, you might ask? Well, no. It has lots of company from cats and its entire diet is essentially made up of cat food.

This is a problem for two main reasons. Firstly, housing tortoises domestically with cats, or any other animals really, may lead to intestinal blockage due to fur ingestion overtime (thank you Karen for the tip). Secondly, as I mentioned before, these tortoises' diet in the wild is mostly made up of fruits and flowers. If you just have a look at the back of the package of any standard cat food, the level of protein they contain is pretty high. Now, imagine this 13-year-old individual, being fed cat food and housed with cats for almost its entire life. Sad, I know.

Nonetheless, unaware of just how bad her current situatio is, and its impact on her health in the future, this individual seems pretty happy.

The Conraua goliath is one of those species that most people with no interest in amphibians will have heard of because of its size. The 'biggest frog' factoid being an almost must for any pub quiz...or perhaps more realistically, for any pub quiz I would certainly enjoy.

I decided to write about it due to a dream. Yes, that's right, a dream. Not long ago I dreamt that I found a large C. goliath specimen in my garden and I was over the moon about it. I mean, a living and breathing Goliath Frog in my garden! In England! The downside of this dream was that in it, I was the only person able to see the frog. The dream version of my husband couldn't see it at all...oh, the frustration! The next day, I was telling my friend Steven Allain about my strange dream. Realistically, he's one of the only people in my day-to-day life who would truly appreciate the frustration that my dream-self was experiencing. We got talking about C. goliath and I then decided that I would write a post about it. Why not? If I believed in such things, I would say the dream was a sign and all that. So, here it is.

Most people will know that the C. goliath - commonly known as the Goliath Frog or Giant Slippery Frog - is the largest species of living frog on the planet. Records show that adults average at around 12 inches in length and 3 kg in weight. Curiously, although the adults of the species are carnivores, the tadpoles are herbivores. In fact, the C. goliath tadpole's early diet is rather restricted and made up mainly of the Diacraeia warmingii plant. Unfortunately, as the range of this plant is limited, the spread of the C. goliath in the wild is also restricted to parts of Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. As adults, however, the C. goliath's size means that almost anything is a potential meal. A few sources indicate that a researcher has found evidence of bats in the contents of a captured C. goliath individual's stomach. However limited the evidence may be, it does suggest that these frogs are able to catch bats to begin with...considering that this species can leap up to 10 feet, catching bats becomes a somewhat more believable feat.

Vendor showing his available C. goliath collection for sale in Cameroon | Photograph taken from The African Gourmet's website

Unlike most frog species, the males are usually bigger than the females. This may help explain another unusual characteristic of the species - males do not possess nuptial pads. Nuptial pads in male frogs are used to facilitate the grasping of the female during mating. Another curiosity in their biology is that although they have an acute sense of hearing, they do not possess vocal cords. Therefore, they do not produce sounds during the mating season as many other species of frogs do. C. goliath males will instead create round pools of shallow water by riverbanks and wrestle each other for the right to mate.

Their short mating season ranges from July to August and females will lay hundreds of eggs. Unlike other frog species, these eggs will receive no protection from the parents and the surviving tadpoles will take between 85-95 days to metamorphose into frogs. They rarely breed in the wild and captive-breeding is unfortunately also rarely successful. Furthermore, the Goliath Frog's meat is part of the diet of many African tribes and considered a delicacy by local people. Combined with the hunt for wild individuals in order to meet the demand of the pet trade, you will not be surprised to hear that this species is listed as endangered.

If like me, you too like reading about this amazing frog, I have listed my main sources below. If you know of any other major projects aimed at the conservation of the Conraua goliath, do let me know! I'd love to hear from you.

Like many other small gecko species, the Hemidactylus turcicus is one of those species that we tend to take for granted. The type that most people will see on the walls of the house they rented for their holidays but never really stop to think about.

Growing up in Brazil, I would often see other species of the same genus such as the H. mabouia and the H. frenatus around the house. Unfortunately, I am ashamed to say that when I was around 6 years old, I did capture one and tried to keep it as my pet whilst "feeding" it vegetables. However, as I grew, I became more interested in their behaviour and started to study their biology more closely.

Most Brazilians will look at these small geckos and call them by the exact same common name - lagartixa. It doesn't matter what type of gecko it is. If it is on the wall and small, it's a lagartixa. This sort of 'non-reaction' is what drove me to write about the H. turcicus in the first place. When people think about reptiles they will often imagine big snakes and lizards. They will say things like 'I don't like reptiles' but wouldn't bat an eyelash at the little geckos on the wall. These tiny little creatures are reptiles too - and they are fascinating!

Figure 1. H. turcicus toe

I encountered my first H. turcicus during a trip to Ikaria, one of the Greek islands. In my head, I immediately started comparing their colouration, size and behaviour to the tropical species with which I am familiar. The similarities, as expected, are many - they are insectivores, active during the evening or night and can be found near human dwellings on dry stone walls. They tend to hide under rocks during the day or inside cracks on the walls. Like many other geckos, they tend to sit near light sources that attract moths and other insects. You can sometimes find a small group of the H. turcicus banded together near light bulbs appraising potential prey. Hayley & Blackshaw (2015) had a research article published in The Herpetological Bulletin on how habitat structure may affect the foraging behaviour of the H. turcicus that is definitely worth a read.

Although they have adhesive toes that help them cling to walls and rocks whilst maintaining even an upside down position, the adhesive pads don't extend to the end of the toes. Instead, they stop short of the tip of the toe where a small claw helps the geckos grip to rougher surfaces. This is illustrated in Figure 1 (Arnold & Ovenden, 2002, plate 20) where the diagram clearly shows where the adhesive pads end and a little claw sticks out from the tip of the gecko's toe. The photograph in Figure 2 gives us a better idea of what this looks like in real life.

It is no secret that instances of cannibalism occur in many reptile and amphibian species worldwide. Geckos are no exception to the rule. For instance, David Soulsby noted evidence of cannibalism in one of H. turcicus' most similar species - the Common House Gecko (H. frenatus) in his book 'Animal Cannibalism: The Dark Side of Evolution'. Although he did not mention H. turcicus specifically in his book, it is not a stretch to imagine that such a successive invasive species would display instances of cannibalism. Other gecko species have been reported to prey on smaller gecko species as well as smaller individuals of their own species. Parves & Alam (2015) highlight this occurrence in their paper published in The Herpetological Bulletin with H. flaviviridis as an example. As they noted, however, an individual's size would greatly affect its ability to predate on other individuals.

As some types of geckos are commonly kept as pets nowadays, it may come as no surprise that some species can produce a high pitched sound similar to a squeak when they feel threatened. Males of the H. turcicus species are known to be fairly territorial and warn-off competitors through a series of clicks and squeaks. It's important to note that these squeaky sounds are also used in a range of other social situations such as calling and attracting potential mates.

Females tend to lay a couple of eggs 2-3 times a year. They usually hide their clutches under rocks or in cracks where the eggs stay for 6-12 weeks before hatching. Younglings tend to be translucent pink in colour with a banded tail.

Next time you spot a gecko on the wall, try to get a good look at it - maybe take a couple of photos if you can. This will help you identify the gecko species and will make these encounters all the more interesting!

References:

Arnold, N. & Ovenden, D. (2002). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London, Harper Collins Publisher.

When people find out that one of my pets is a snake, their first reaction tends to be a fearful 'yuck' followed by 'Does it bite? Is it poisonous?'. There are a few things wrong with these questions but let's first address the fearful 'yuck' reaction.

Most people's initial reaction to reptiles is usually not good. However, unlike any other type of reptile, snakes seem to instill an immediate strong fear reaction. There are a number of reason as to why that is the case. Some studies suggest that the fear of certain creatures are rooted in evolution. However, as we grow, this fear tends to be exacerbated by unrealistic society trends as well as lack of knowledge. Therefore, I am a strong believer that education is the best way to tackle this issue and prevent the unnecessary killing of snakes based on fear and misconceptions.

This brings me to my second point. Let's now tackle the 'Does it bite?' question. In short, yes, it can bite. However, so can dogs, and in fact, so can you. A good question to ask yourself would be, why would it bite? It could be a number of reasons. A snake might be trying to protect its territory. Or it may feel threatened and scared. By analysing a situation and the environment in which the snake is found you could have a better idea of the reason why it would try and strike. It is worth noting that snakes are ectothermic and so cannot regulate their own temperature. Therefore, they rely on external heat sources to warm themselves up and ensure that their metabolism works as it should. This means that they tend not to waste any energy unless they feel it is absolutely necessary.

As to the question 'Is it poisonous?', we will first need to correct the use of the word 'poisonous'. Although in day-to-day life they seem to be used interchangeably, the terms 'poisonous' and 'venomous' actually mean different things. It is true that once in the body the chemicals do similar damage. However, venomous creatures need to introduce the venom by either biting or stinging. Therefore, a more accurate question would be 'Is it venomous?'.

Poisonous creatures have a more passive approach. In this instance, the harmful substance could line the surface of their skin or be stored within the creature's body. Therefore, the chemicals would need to be passed through touch, such as with the poison dart frog, or acquired by diet. In a way, one could argue that poisonous creatures evolved mainly from a defense mechanism perspective whereas venomous creatures evolved mainly for offense - though as it is often the case in nature, there are almost always exceptions.

Now, moving on to answering the 'Is it venomous?' question. Most snakes in captivity will not be venomous. To handle venomous species one would be required to have special permits and licences. However, as we all know, wildlife trafficking is nothing new so, I am sure that some unfortunate venomous snakes are in fact being held in captivity by heartless humans across the globe. It is worth noting, however, that the only venomous species in the UK is the adder. Adders are particularly shy and often avoid humans, movement and other creatures altogether. There are more cases of dogs being bitten on the nose because they were sniffing around and adder's hiding place than humans. When humans are bitten, it is usually a pretty unlucky accidental encounter and fatal casualties are EXTREMELY rare.

It is easy for humans to let fear cloud their judgement and not see the important role that snakes play in the ecosystem and to scientific research. If you are afraid of snakes, I hope this post helps you to understand these mysterious creatures better and encourages you to learn even more about them.

At the end of April I went back to Sao Paulo in Brazil for my cousin's wedding and to visit my family. It'd been nearly three years since the last time I'd been to Brazil, so as you can imagine, lots had changed.

I grew up in Sao Paulo - a city that developed way too quickly for its own good and without the much needed planning it deserves. However, despite the changes, it was very familiar. The constant rush of people, the incredibly large number of cars and subsequent bad traffic, the lack of green areas and the most heartbreaking part of it - the large amount of street dogs. I may sound too critical of my hometown and that is exactly what I am. I criticise it because I love it and appreciate its potential.

During my last days in Sao Paulo, we went to a place called Aquario Itaquera. Please note that this is not the famous Aquarium of Sao Paulo. I used to go to Aquario Itaquera very often when I was a child - my family and I refer to Aquario Itaquera simply as Aquario. It is difficult to describe exactly what it is, as it has a bit of everything, but it is mainly a large commercial space with a small theme park included. Therefore, as you can imagine, it is a paradise for kids. You get to see animals, different types of plants and go on the park's rides all in the same place. I had really good childhood memories from Aquario. However, as a child, you often miss the signs that things aren't quite right. In fact, most adult Brazilians that grow up in that reality may not notice anything wrong with it at all.

I love animals. My idea of a great day out when I was a child would be to visit a big pet shop like Aquario. Trust me, when you grow up in a massively urbanised city, anything that offers you a glimpse of an animal is great in your little innocent eyes. However, I am no longer a child and after studying ecology and seeing first hand the effects of bad animal care and wildlife trafficking, I can no longer enjoy what they offer. It was a big disappointment and completely ruined my childhood memories.

Brazil is currently going through a huge politically induced economical crisis - anyone from a developing country will know that most times politics and corruption are pretty much synonyms. The crisis forces people to find any way they can to make money and so once again, we humans use animals for our purposes.

To be fair to the efforts made by the local authorities and IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), things have indeed changed since I last remember it. Fifteen years ago or so, wild caught reptiles and other exotics were sold just before the entrance of the Aquario by many individuals. There were so many sellers of wild caught exotics that the prices were ridiculously low. I remember them pilling around the queue of cars that were about to enter Aquario offering little tortoises, tiny baby iguanas, etc. I have a very vivid memory of these three tiny red footed tortoises being pushed inside the car towards me through the open window and wanting to take them home so badly!

During my recent visit, I noticed that there were no obvious illegal exotics sellers around - note the 'obvious' in the sentence. However, there were 'private' sellers outside with boxes full of puppies and kittens. The worst part of it was the state of said puppies and kittens. You could tell that they'd been crammed in those boxes on show for the entire day. These were not happy and excitable puppies and kittens - they were sad. So sad, no amount of baby talk could get them to even lift their ears. I'd have tried to take a photo but I know what these 'private' sellers are like. They do not like cameras and I am rather fond of my life. So, I went inside the Aquario.

What met me inside was almost as horrifying. The actual 'Aquarium' side of it wasn't all that bad - after all, the place is famous for the sale of many different species of fish. The tanks were clean and although some of them were crammed, the turnaround of fish in that place is truly impressive. If only these fish were well kept when they got to their new homes, I wouldn't have that much of a problem with it. What shocked me, however, was a separate section of 'Aquario'. The section named 'Pet Shop'. Yes, in English. It is a pretty big space mainly taken by shelves full of products relating to the care of pets. From the entrance you can hear the distant chirping noise of birds singing - and can immediately tell that there are quite a few of them. At the very back of the shop, you are led to rows of small pilled up cages filled with different types of birds for sale. I already hate the idea of birds in cages not being able to spread their wings and fly. But what met me, made me want to cry. Some of the cages were so full that the birds were fighting for a space to stand that wasn't the cage's floor. And let me tell you, the floor was dirty. So dirty I am pretty sure that considering the amount of birds, it had been a few days since they last cleaned it. I asked one of the shop employees if they moved the birds to a bigger cage for the night and with a very confused face she said 'of course not'.

Now, bear in mind that this is a licensed establishment that can legally sell these animals and should therefore, be regulated as to how the animals are kept. The scene was so sad that I couldn't stay looking for long. So I moved on to the rodent section and felt like crying all over again. The first scene that met me were two glass tanks packed with Syrian Hamsters. No exercise wheel, no hides available and certainly no space. The only things available were a bowl of food and a small water bowl that needed a good clean in the middle. If you have ever researched the care of Syrian Hamsters, you will know that these are solitary creatures and so after a certain age, they should be kept apart. Although the majority of the hamsters in the tanks were pretty young - after all, they are up for sale - some of them were already way past the age of being kept in groups.

There were other types of hamsters too. All crammed in tiny spaces with no toys, hide or means of exercising available. The areas housing the rabbits and guinea pigs, also needed a good clean. All in all, the visit was a complete disappointment. I started remembering my trips to Aquario as a child and realised that what I was seeing was nothing new. That had always been the case - I was just too young at the time to know that the state those animals were being kept wasn't acceptable or fair on them.

You could say 'Oh but things are slowly changing' or 'At least it changed a little' but that is not good enough. It has been more than 15 years and things have barely improved at all. I think about the generations of birds, dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits that have been put through the same terrible conditions, and I feel ashamed to be human.

I love Brazil. It is an incredibly beautiful country and this beauty is mainly due to its flora and fauna. We need to cherish and look after it because when everyone starts saying 'what a shame...', it will already be too late.

The Common Lizard (Zootoca (formerly Lacerta) Vivapara) is one of the most adaptable and widespread reptiles in Central and Northern Europe. In fact, unlike any other species, it can be found as far north as the Arctic Circle in Norway. With reptiles being almost exclusively ectothermic, seeing a lizard thrive in mostly cold climates is truly amazing.

Adult Common Lizards are usually between 85-170mm with the thick tail accounting for approximately 2/3 of the lizard's length. Males are usually darker than females, sporting a more defined patern of pale spots along the centre of their backs. However, in places such as Dorset in the UK, this already varied colour pattern is taken to a whole new level with some Common Lizards sporting a rather vibrant bright green. In these cases, they can easily (and are often) mistaken by Sand Lizards (Lacerta Agilis) in habitats where the two species occur. However, it is thought that this colouration is mostly due to lighting rather than actual pigmentation.

In his book 'Cold Blood: Adventures With Reptiles & Amphibians', Richard Kerridge discusses in extent the extremely varied colouration of these lizards. He also discusses how versatile they are when it comes to habitat. Although they are easily spotted in a variety of different habitats they seem to prefer some dampness and will often shy away from greater heats, retreating to shaded areas. They can even be found in meadows where not many pheasants are present.

Common Lizards can be found in most of England and Wales and are widespread in Scotland with the exception of the Outer Hebrides and a few Western Isles. They are also the only reptile species found in Ireland at all. They are one of the first reptiles to appear in spring - sometimes as early as February if temperatures are mild - and usually don't go into hibernation until November.

Another testament to their adaptability is their ability to tolerate others of the same species. They rarely fight for territory and will often be spotted sunbathing in groups. When sunbathing, like many lizards, they will flatten their bodies and spread their legs - even turning the soles upside down to absorb as much heat as possible.

They are extremely agile and are fast hunters. These lizards have excellent hearing and will often track their prey by sound alone. Although they get most of their water from the insects they eat, they will sometimes lap up droplets of water from rain or dew from leaves and stones. Speaking of their agility, although they are mostly terrestrial, they can be pretty good climbers, often found on garden fences and trees in search of that elusive sunny spot.

Their courtship and mating usually starts in April and May with live young being born 3 months later. It is worth noting, however, that in some places in Spain and France, these Lizards will actually lay eggs that will hatch shortly after. The young are usually between 5-12mm in size and almost entirely black. They are also almost immediately fully independent from the parents, often fending for themselves less than a day after birth.

Like many lizards, the Common Lizard is able to voluntarily shed its tail in order to escape predators. The new tail will start regenerating from where the vertebrae was severed but (as it is the case with most lizards) the new tail is never as 'nice' looking as the original. They also shed their skin in the same way that most lizards do. Unlike snakes, they shed a different part of their body at a time. This process occurs within a period of a few hours to a few days. Whilst they are growing, they can shed from 8-10 times during the summer months.

Unfortunately, a lack of studies on wild species means we do not have an accurate measure of their lifespan. However, a study conducted in 1971 with 6 captive bred young being raised in outdoor vivariums concluded that the majority lived up to 8 years with one living up to 10 years.

If you'd like to know more about the Common Lizard, I would highly recommend David C. Wareham's book published by the British Herpetological Society 'The Reptiles and Amphibians of Dorset'. You can also find a lot of information on similar species and compare their characteristics.

Now, don't quote me on this but if my research is correct, Buchanan is a Scottish wildlife photographer and cameramen. He's worked on quite a few wildlife documentaries including the rather famous Big Cat Diary.

I must confess that I came across his new series by chance. I am always a bit skeptical of documentaries where the 'white presenter' meets a tribe and proceeds to explain their way of life in a sometimes annoyingly patronising way. Of course, this is a huge generalisation on my part and I do appreciate that not all presenters are white, and of those who are, not all are patronising. However, whenever I do watch these documentaries I find myself intrigued by the cameramen. Let's face it - they often have a tougher job than the presenter themselves. Therefore, it was a nice change of pace when I realised that Buchanan was in fact, a wildlife cameraman himself.

There are a few reason why this series caught my attention. To begin with, Anacondas. Second of all, the first episode takes place in the Amazon forest - hurrah for South America! Thirdly, we get to meet a tribe that worships Anacondas in a world where reptiles are pretty much demonised. Finally, Anacondas. I mean...seriously, Anacondas.

However, after watching the first episode of the series, I found myself amazed at more than just that beautiful Anaconda they came across. I was amazed that the tribespeople were in fact working with scientists to help preserve their land, the animals and their beloved Anacondas - and I don't think we quite appreciate just how brilliant of a job they are doing. That is conservation work at its best!

Overall, I was pretty impressed. I am not a big fan of the whole emotional philosophical speeches that we usually get from the main presenter in those types of documentaries. In all honesty, I am much more interested in what the tribespeople have to say than I am on how the presenters are feeling. However, thankfully, Buchanan managed to keep that to a minimum.

If there is one thing I would have liked the series to focus on a little bit more is how much those tribes are struggling against huge corporations and corrupt governments. Deforestation and crimes against native tribespeople are huge problems in South America. In fact, it is one of the things that the leader of the tribe keeps emphasising when Buchanan is about to leave the tribe at the end of his stay with them. He keeps asking Buchanan to 'spread the word'.

If you're into wildlife documentaries, it is definitely worth watching it. The connection between the tribespeople and the local wildlife is so strong that it's nearly tangible! Truly beautiful to see and incredibly inspiring. Looking forward to the next episodes now.

It is no secret that animals have had to adapt in order to survive in an ever changing environment. However, the human induced changes seem to always be the most challenging ones. Yet, we humans seem to think that we have the right to feel victimised when the way in which animals adapt to our changes affect our lives.

Take pigeons for instance. Humans love complaining about pigeons. It is not uncommon for a human to react to the simple mention of a pigeon by saying something on the lines of ‘I hate pigeons! Bloody flying rats!’. However, considering we have pretty much invaded their territory and permanently changed it, I would argue that they are simply making the most of it. It appears that, similarly to actual rats, the urban life-style suits them just fine.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about many other animals. Hedgehogs have a hard time adapting to urbanisation. Small things such as fenced gardens significantly limit their ‘hunting’ area. Let’s not even mention how difficult competition with other urban wildlife can be.

My brother recently found a hedgehog hobbling along the pavement in broad daylight. Knowing that seeing a hedgehog in broad daylight is never a good sign, he approached the hedgehog for a closer inspection. He then noticed that not only was the hedgehog quite disoriented but it also seemed to be weak and injured. He contacted the PACT Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk and they arranged for him to drop the little hedgehog off with someone who would then drive it to the Sanctuary. PACT immediately took the little hedgehog to the vet and it received the treatment that it so desperately needed. You will be happy to know that the little guy is running around the floor and doing really well. It was put on a course of antibiotics and vitamins and will be released back in the wild when it is fully healed.

It astounds me how little the majority of people know about wildlife in the area where they live. Now, I don’t expect people to know the physiology of all these animals. I simply would expect them to be able to a) identify a hedgehog, b) know that it is nocturnal and c) appreciate that it is a shy creature. As I have mentioned before, seeing a hedgehog in broad daylight is never a good sign. It saddens me to think of the amount of hedgehogs that could have been saved if the people walking past them understood the implications of seeing a hedgehog in broad daylight that is not trying to hide or curl up in a ball.

This makes me greatly appreciate the work and dedication of animal sanctuaries and rescues. Their work is crucial to these animals and they most definitely should receive more support from all of us!

In honour of the little hedgehog, I would like to once again highlight the amazing work that PACT Animal Sanctuary do and ask you to support them however you can. Check out their website and if you can afford it, adopt an animal or donate to their cause. They have an admirable no kill policy and take in any kind of animal. In case of emergencies, please contact them on 01362 820 775.

I would also like to say how proud I am of my little brother. I know you were late for an appointment but very few people understand compassion like you do. You are an amazing person and I love you very much.

I often find myself confused and disappointed at how we humans seem to rank the priority of life based on our perception of what deserves to be saved and what doesn't. This 'importance ranking system' of ours is often influenced by our upbringing and personal preferences. However, society as a whole tends to have a 'lose guideline' when it comes to the importance of different animal's lives.

I was on my way to work a couple of days ago, when I noticed something dark in the middle of the pavement. I noted people walking around it. Kids going past on their mini scooters - nearly running it over. No one tried to move whatever it was from the middle of the pavement. In fact, no one really paid it any attention at all. From a distance, I thought it was a small plastic bag. My bad eyesight has failed me more times than I can count. However, based on people's reactions to the unidentified item, my brain quickly assumed it was something inconsequential. I soon realised how very wrong my brain was.

The inconsequential item my brain had assumed was a small black plastic bag, was in fact a pigeon. An injured and scared little pigeon. At that moment, I felt shame. Deep burning shame for my own species. Shame that people would walk by without the slightest inclination to help it. Shame that they would teach their kids to walk by an injured animal without even trying to help it. However, I know why they didn't pay it any attention or stop to help it. They didn't because it was just a pigeon.

I crouched by it, trying to protect it from the madness that is central London during the rush our. As pigeons can carry disease, I used a couple tissues I had in my bag to gently move it to a quieter location. Once that was done, I called the RSPCA to report the injured little bird. The attendant logged my report but told me that unfortunately, they do not have the manpower to attend to all reports and that by the time they got there, the bird could have either died or flown away. I looked at the pigeon, trying to assess its chances of survival. It saddened me to admit that they were very small. I gave the RSPCA the address and descriptive details of where they could find the bird. At this point, its eyes were closed and I could no longer tell whether the pigeon was alive or not.

I left the pigeon with a heavy heart. This time, ashamed of myself for leaving it there. I could have taken it to a private vet. But I didn't. I got to work feeling no better than the people that walked past it without a second glance. I shared what happened with a few work colleagues and their reaction to it - although expected - only served to fuel my anger and shame. In their eyes, my grief was silly, after all, it was just a pigeon - a 'flying rat'.

That day, I got home and decided to change things. I may not be able to change how other people think or act. What I can do, however, is change how I think and act. As cheesy as this may sound, the memory of the little pigeon will always be with me. It serves as a reminder that next time I see an injured animal, I will do my best to help it. Because to me, there is no such a thing as 'just a pigeon'.

I appreciate that there are many endangered indigenous species in the UK. As a keen herpetology enthusiast, it hasn't escaped my attention that the natterjack toad, for instance, is definitely a species in trouble. However, I would like to dedicate this post to another one of my favourite little guys - hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs have been having a very tough time over the past 100 years and are now considered one of the most endangered indigenous species in the UK - so much so that studies claim they could be completely extinct by 2030. Reasons for such decline in their numbers can be attributed to many factors that when combined, make for a difficult environment for these little guys to thrive. From urbanisation resulting in a loss of habitat to pesticides eliminating their food, they were forced to move into our gardens. However, our gardens too prove to be challenging. Rat poison, strimming, mowing and even our fences have had a huge impact on their survival. If you would like greater details on the studies mentioned, please visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and The Wildlife Trusts websites.

The purpose of this post is to bring a wonderful community support based project to your attention. The BHPS has been heavily funding a conservation project that aims to improve the areas that hedgehogs are found - for example, our gardens! The project is appropriately called 'Hedgehog Improvement Area' and asks that people help by simply making a five-inch hole in their fence to help hedgehogs move from one garden to the next.

Just in case you have the crazy idea that this cause is not worthy of your attention, have a look at this video. How could you say no to that little face?!

Update (03/01/2018)

I have recently had a great guide pointed out to me and thought it was definitely worth a share! It gives a good insight into the many dangers faced by these little guys and what we can do to help them. The guide is extremely detailed and an incredibly good source of accurate information. Please read and share it with as many people as you can!

This Easter break I was pleasantly surprised. My better half and I went to visit the family in the countryside of England. While strolling around the farmer's market, we noticed a little commotion outside the town's local pet shop. The local pet shop owners had prepared a special Easter display for the kids with a few animals for them to see and interact with - and I must say that despite the cold, the adults seemed to be enjoying it too.

You must be thinking - that doesn't sound all that surprising. You may have actually seen something similar before. The surprise came in the shape of a beautiful adult 'candycane' corn snake. And that was only the initial surprise. They also had additional reptile vivariums set up (although when I stopped by, they seemed to have been empty) and a giant african land snail. I was definitely chuffed that the kids got to have a look at these amazing animals. However, my exaggerated happiness was actually due to the fact that the pet shop owners had included such animals in their display at all!

Humans tend to see certain creatures in a terrible light - herptiles included. Be that because they believe the creatures to be evil or simply 'yuck'. Either way, these reactions lead to a lack of respect towards many animals. Sometimes, the lack of respect can have catastrophic effects on the species - and let's face it, snakes know all about being perceived as evil.

Although the little stall outside of the pet shop may not mean much, it could be a start to a more informed generation. It could mean one less child likely to kill a snake on sight simply because they fear it or think it's evil. It could be the start of a generation better informed about the importance of wildlife. It could even be the beginning to a time when most people won't react with horror and disgust when you mention herptiles! Hey, don't knock the idea off, one can dream.

Regardless of the religious aspect of Easter, I see it as a time of happiness. A little time of the year that I get to spend with my loved ones and appreciate how lucky I am. Therefore, I was glad to have seen the little stall. I am glad that this could be a sign of change - a sign of better things to come. After all, in my world, this is what Easter is all about.